The location of the play was strange since I thought this should have been performed in the cellar theatre. The chapel wasn’t ideal for the actors, through what I can tell, for it distorted their voices due to the wide space of the venue and I noticed an instant echo every time someone would speak. The stage in it of itself didn’t suit the environment of the performance for the play is quite ominous and the chapel was too open and bright. Now I can see the chapel being a good option for musicals and children’s plays since the chapel is a warm, welcoming location. I am not sure if you had a choice in the location, but it you did I would have chosen to have performed in the cellar theatre. Especially the moments where we are in Penny’s home and Isabelle was watching TV. The lighting of the production I can tell was very limited for there wasn’t a huge variety in lighting. I am not an expert at all in lighting, but I can tell there was only about 4 types of moods that it gave me: interest, dark, cold, and mystery. Lighting wasn’t the aspect that I paid the most attention to for I didn’t feel that lighting affected too much in the performance nor the whole atmosphere. It did compliment the characters that had monologues or that were there the longest. Specifically, the lighting brought flattering attention to those that spoke and provide just enough attention that wasn’t overpowering. I am glad that spotlights where not used much for I think it would have affected the overall direction and point of view. The costume choice for Penny was great for I can instantly tell that we are set in the 1990s even based on her first choice of outfit. The outfit is simple, colorful, wasn’t too expensive, and realistic to what a middle class 14-year-old girl would wear. The actor who played her seemed comfortable in that choice as well because she moved fluidly, didn’t have to adjust her shirt or anything like that, and remained true to what the author would probably have intended for her to dress like. For every other character, I would have liked to have seen more of the 1990s style. I am aware that this can be a little tricky, but I imagined Lefty looking a tad nerdier in his appearance, perhaps taped glasses, overalls under his jacket, tight pants that are a little too short for him. Maybe not that dramatic but more than what was seen on stage. For Isabelle, I understand the choice of wearing the robe the entire play but I personally would have liked to have seen a bit more variety in lounge wear. To me only having a robe indicates that she is not only lazy but carefree in choice of fashion and I don’t think Isabelle was intended to be so. I would have liked to have seen her in mom jeans with showing socks and converse shoes, having her hair up in a high ponytail or braids, a colorful t shirt and overall shorts, a workout outfit that you could seen in a Jane Fonda tape, or maybe a well put together outfit just in case her prince charming comes back from war. For Hugo, I deep down wanted to see him wear a Nirvana T-shirt, but that’s totally subjective and something that might not even make sense for his character. Now I do wish that he did have an outfit change for it came across to me that he only has one outfit for everyday of the week. Every time he was on the phone with Penny, it was a different day therefore it would make sense to have a different outfit. Maybe not a drastic change and keep the same concept of t-shirt, plaid shirt, and jeans but maybe a yellow t shirt, or go pajamas. I did like the costume choice for Evvie for it totally brought out the quirky side to her that I enjoyed, in fact her character would have been the perfect opportunity to add a jean jacket or baggy pants.The acting was very interesting for some actors NAILED their characters and some were just ok but had redeeming moments. For Penny I really appreciated the vulnerability and sensitivity that the actress had throughout the entire play. She even added a touch of grumping attitudes that felt true to the age and made the character immature which was an aspect that I didn’t expect her to add. One thing I did wish the actress did was be more in touch in the important moments or would have added a unique relationship with each character. For instance, I didn’t feel the connection that she should have felt for Hugo when she talked to him over the phone or could have added a layer for love for Lefty that Penny in the play did feel for him. For Lefty, I really did enjoyed his performance for he truly encapsulated the socially awkward guy next door character that I hoped for. He was that the hopeless romantic and sensitive guy that I imagined he be. I secretly wished that he would be a little bit more animated or explored more theatrical choices to expand Lefty to its full potential. Perhaps used his space more or had more dynamic in his voice when he speaks to Isabelle or Penny. The actress who played Isabelle was very confusing to me, but it’s not totally her fault for she looked way too young to even be a mother. To me she looked more like Penny’s sister or her young aunt. Her performance also added to that aspect where she acted like an older sister. There wasn’t a time where she acted like a mother towards Penny and to me felt a little too distant towards Penny. Also, her attitude felt more stand-offish than anything and no sense of character development considering her daughter did go missing for some time and Penny did go through a traumatic event. The actor who played Hugo did a FANTASTIC job playing the love interest of Penny. One of my favorite aspects of the actor is that he reacts to each situation effortlessly and naturally and adds a sense of quirkiness that felt very relatable. He embodied the right enough balance of humor and sensitivity that resonated with me and I secretly wished that there was a guy like Hugo out there. He also totally looked the part too which made me like the character even more. The actor who played Evvie did a very good job being the comic relief and made the audience laugh the most even I attended the performance. I love the amount of spice she adds to her lines and her physical choices were quite perfect. The actor who played the pizza delivery boy was also a great casting choice for he made the audience laugh a lot too. What I loved most about him was that he was that guy that everyone knew in college who was clearly a douchebag. His reactions to Isabelle where HILAROUS and honestly very authentic. The actress who played Nancy was good, slightly forgettable for there wasn’t anything too interesting in her performance. I didn’t understand the choice of being that mean to Penny in the first scene. I wished she would have been a slightly more likable character for in the play I felt that she was likable. The man character was a good choice, but I do wish he looked slightly more creepy and rough looking. He was definitely charming to say the least, but it would have been cool to have add that added dimension of creepy for I didn’t understand why he looked too normal to be a bad guy. But honestly it’s not that big of an issue for I can see people disagreeing with my critique. I really like the actress who played Elizabeth for she totally looks Korean and totally performed her lines as if she had broken English. The one thing I wished she would have added slightly more dimension to her character for she came across as a little dumb and I don’t think the playwright had the intention on making her a dumb character. I was quite surprised that there wasn’t a whole lot of stage props or background scenery in the performance. I wasn’t sure if there was a budget for the play but if there was I would have created an apartment setting that could have easily transformed into a Walgreens or the distant place that Penny vanishes too. With that setting in mind, it was be easy to switch over to a mall store or Hugo’s room if money grew on trees. Especially being in the chapel, I could see it being very hard to move equipment or design a scenery with such little space. Although I do know a whole lot about directing or stage direction, the one thing I knew instantly was the actress who played Penny turned her back to the audience a lot and it affected the way she spoke. Sometimes it was hard to hear her, same goes for the actor who played Lefty, but it wasn’t as drastic as Penny. But overall, I truly did enjoy this performance I honestly would recommend my friends and family to watch this performance or maybe someday see it on a professional stage just to see how other directors and actors portrayed the play.
The location of the play was strange since I thought this should have been
performed in the cellar theatre. The chapel wasn’t ideal for the actors, through what I
can tell, for it distorted their voices due to the wide space of the venue and I noticed
an instant echo every time someone would speak. The stage in it of itself didn’t suit
the environment of the performance for the play is quite ominous and the chapel was
too open and bright. Now I can see the chapel being a good option for musicals and
children’s plays since the chapel is a warm, welcoming location. I am not sure if you
had a choice in the location, but it you did I would have chosen to have performed in
the cellar theatre. Especially the moments where we are in Penny’s home and
Isabelle was watching TV.
The lighting of the production I can tell was very limited for there wasn’t a huge
variety in lighting. I am not an expert at all in lighting, but I can tell there was only
about 4 types of moods that it gave me: interest, dark, cold, and mystery. Lighting
wasn’t the aspect that I paid the most attention to for I didn’t feel that lighting
affected too much in the performance nor the whole atmosphere. It did compliment
the characters that had monologues or that were there the longest. Specifically, the
lighting brought flattering attention to those that spoke and provide just enough
attention that wasn’t overpowering. I am glad that spotlights where not used much
for I think it would have affected the overall direction and point of view.
The costume choice for Penny was great for I can instantly tell that we are set in
the 1990s even based on her first choice of outfit. The outfit is simple, colorful,
wasn’t too expensive, and realistic to what a middle class 14-year-old girl would
wear. The actor who played her seemed comfortable in that choice as well because
she moved fluidly, didn’t have to adjust her shirt or anything like that, and remained
true to what the author would probably have intended for her to dress like. For every
other character, I would have liked to have seen more of the 1990s style. I am aware
that this can be a little tricky, but I imagined Lefty looking a tad nerdier in his
appearance, perhaps taped glasses, overalls under his jacket, tight pants that are a
little too short for him. Maybe not that dramatic but more than what was seen on
stage.
For Isabelle, I understand the choice of wearing the robe the entire play but
I personally would have liked to have seen a bit more variety in lounge wear. To me
only having a robe indicates that she is not only lazy but carefree in choice of
fashion and I don’t think Isabelle was intended to be so. I would have liked to have
seen her in mom jeans with showing socks and converse shoes, having her hair up
in a high ponytail or braids, a colorful t shirt and overall shorts, a workout outfit that
you could seen in a Jane Fonda tape, or maybe a well put together outfit just in
case her prince charming comes back from war. For Hugo, I deep down wanted to
see him wear a Nirvana T-shirt, but that’s totally subjective and something that might
not even make sense for his character.
Now I do wish that he did have an outfit change for it came across to me that he
only has one outfit for everyday of the week. Every time he was on the phone with
Penny, it was a different day therefore it would make sense to have a different outfit.
Maybe not a drastic change and keep the same concept of t-shirt, plaid shirt, and
jeans but maybe a yellow t shirt, or go pajamas. I did like the costume choice for
Evvie for it totally brought out the quirky side to her that I enjoyed, in fact her
character would have been the perfect opportunity to add a jean jacket or baggy
pants.The acting was very interesting for some actors NAILED their characters and
some were just ok but had redeeming moments. For Penny I really appreciated the
vulnerability and sensitivity that the actress had throughout the entire play. She even
added a touch of grumping attitudes that felt true to the age and made the character
immature which was an aspect that I didn’t expect her to add.
One thing I did wish the actress did was be more in touch in the important moments
or would have added a unique relationship with each character. For instance, I didn’t
feel the connection that she should have felt for Hugo when she talked to him over the
phone or could have added a layer for love for Lefty that Penny in the play did feel
for him. For Lefty, I really did enjoyed his performance for he truly encapsulated the
socially awkward guy next door character that I hoped for. He was that the hopeless
romantic and sensitive guy that I imagined he be. I secretly wished that he would be
a little bit more animated or explored more theatrical choices to expand Lefty to its
full potential. Perhaps used his space more or had more dynamic in his voice when
he speaks to Isabelle or Penny. The actress who played Isabelle was very confusing
to me, but it’s not totally her fault for she looked way too young to even be a mother.
To me she looked more like Penny’s sister or her young aunt. Her performance also
added to that aspect where she acted like an older sister. There wasn’t a time where
she acted like a mother towards Penny and to me felt a little too distant towards
Penny. Also, her attitude felt more stand-offish than anything and no sense of
character development considering her daughter did go missing for some time and
Penny did go through a traumatic event.
The actor who played Hugo did a FANTASTIC job playing the love interest of
Penny. One of my favorite aspects of the actor is that he reacts to each situation
effortlessly and naturally and adds a sense of quirkiness that felt very relatable. He
embodied the right enough balance of humor and sensitivity that resonated with me
and I secretly wished that there was a guy like Hugo out there. He also totally looked
the part too which made me like the character even more. The actor who played
Evvie did a very good job being the comic relief and made the audience laugh the
most even I attended the performance. I love the amount of spice she adds to her
lines and her physical choices were quite perfect. The actor who played the pizza
delivery boy was also a great casting choice for he made the audience laugh a lot
too. What I loved most about him was that he was that guy that everyone knew in
college who was clearly a douchebag. His reactions to Isabelle where HILAROUS
and honestly very authentic. The actress who played Nancy was good, slightly
forgettable for there wasn’t anything too interesting in her performance. I didn’t
understand the choice of being that mean to Penny in the first scene. I wished she
would have been a slightly more likable character for in the play I felt that she was
likable.
The man character was a good choice, but I do wish he looked slightly more
creepy and rough looking. He was definitely charming to say the least, but it would
have been cool to have add that added dimension of creepy for I didn’t understand
why he looked too normal to be a bad guy. But honestly it’s not that big of an issue
for I can see people disagreeing with my critique. I really like the actress who played
Elizabeth for she totally looks Korean and totally performed her lines as if she had
broken English. The one thing I wished she would have added slightly more
dimension to her character for she came across as a little dumb and I don’t think the
playwright had the intention on making her a dumb character.
I was quite surprised that there wasn’t a whole lot of stage props or background
scenery in the performance. I wasn’t sure if there was a budget for the play but if
there was I would have created an apartment setting that could have easily
transformed into a Walgreens or the distant place that Penny vanishes too. With
that setting in mind, it was be easy to switch over to a mall store or Hugo’s room if
money grew on trees. Especially being in the chapel, I could see it being very hard
to move equipment or design a scenery with such little space. Although I do know a
whole lot about directing or stage direction, the one thing I knew instantly was the
actress who played Penny turned her back to the audience a lot and it affected the
way she spoke. Sometimes it was hard to hear her, same goes for the actor who
played Lefty, but it wasn’t as drastic as Penny.
But overall, I truly did enjoy this performance I honestly would recommend my
friends and family to watch this performance or maybe someday see it on a
professional stage just to see how other directors and actors portrayed the play.